Sheet feeding machine



Jan. 16, 1940. A. w. NELSQN 2,186,986

I SHEET FEEDING MACHINE Filed NOV. 18, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN OR Zrder W e/son Jan. 16, 1940.

A. W. NELSON SHEET FEEDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 18, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR tim- WgerW/Vebbn Jan. 16, 1940. w NELSON 2,186,986

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 18, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 WW WWW INVENTOR fl/exanar We /50 i,

Jan. 16, 1940. NELSON 2,186,986

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 18, 1937 5 Sheets-Shet 4 W ATT NEY Jan. 16, 1940. A. w. NELSON SHEET FEEDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 18 1957 -5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTQR W/Ve/son AT RNEY Patented Jan. 16, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHEET FEEDING MACHINE Alexander W. Nelson, Belleville, N. J.

Application November 18, 1937, Serial No. 175,253

28 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for feeding sheets such as may be used in photographically reproducing documents and it has for an object to automatically feed the documents to a predetermined position in the apparatus and to discharge the document after it has been photographed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a paper feeding mechanism which feeds the documents one at a time to the exposure position to be photographed or to a predetermined position; to provide a drive for the apparatus including a clutch which is controlled by the documents; to provide a combination of rotating discs and cam controlled fingers for moving the document into the exposure positions; to'provide a paper guide with means therein preventing more than one document being delivered to the exposure position at a time, and another object of the inven- 20 tion is to provide means for taking up documents, one at a time, from a stack that is automatically fed to the delivery mechanism.

Other objects of the invention in relation to the paper feeding mechanism and the control of the apparatus will be more particularly understood from the following specification and the accompanying drawings, illustrating a preferred form of the invention, and in which;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus and 30 the camera;

Fig. 2 is an elevation from the side opposite to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the mechanism;

Fig. 4 is an elevation from the front end of the mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the operating mechanism and the mirrors;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of the clutch mechanism;

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the clutch mechanism with part of the cover broken away to show the release;

Fig. 8 shows the interior mechanism of one of the pick-up discs; I

Fig. 9 is an elevation of Fig. 8 from the right side;

Fig. 10 is an edge view of Fig. 8 from the bottom;

Fig. 11 is a view of the opposite side of the .30 take-up disc from Fig. 8;

Fig. 12 is a cross section of the cam for tilting the exposure table; 1

Fig. 13 is a section on line I3-l3 of Fig. 12; Fig. 14 is a hand operated release for the driv- 55 ing clutch Fig. 15 is a diagram of the take-up disc in the initial position of taking up the front sheet from a stack;

Fig. 16 is the second position of the take-up mechanism; 5 Fig. 17 shows a third position of the take-up mechanism;

Fig. 18 shows the take-up mechanism in the final position in which the document is delivered to the exposure table. Figs. 15, 16, 17 and 18 are 10 in diagram form and partially sectioned.

Fig. 19 shows one form of exposure table that may be used for the documents which is made from a wire frame, the wires of the frame being practically invisible in the photograph.

The present invention relates to sheet feeding mechanism that may be used for photographing legal and other documents up to the size that it is designed for, but the particular application in the drawings is shown in connection with photo- 20 graphing bank checks which occur as single sheets and in a variety of sizes and which are usually stacked together until they are to be photographically recorded. A stack of these checks is placed on their edge in a sliding drawer of the mechanism which is fed forward by a weight. A ledge is provided to engage the bottom edge of the front sheet and to take up the pressure of the Weight which moves the drawer.

A pair of rotating discs are provided with friction pads which engage the front sheet of the stack and moves it on top of the ledge where it is released from the drawer pressure. In this position it is engaged by another pair of friction pads which move it forward into a paper guide which is provided with a fixed friction pad located between the pair on the rotating disc to engage the opposite side of the document. This engagement holds back any additional sheets that may have been carried forward by the take-up mechanism and insures that only one sheet or check can be delivered to the exposure table for each operation. The further rotation of the discs bring a pair of gravity operated fingers into engagement with the edge of the document to continue its movements after it is released by the friction pad and the document is finally engaged by a pair of camcontrolled fingers which project it against a stop on the exposure table.

After the check is in place on the exposure table with its front reflected on one mirror and its back on the other mirror the camera is operated to make an exposure and then the table with the check is deflected to permit the check to slide into a chute to complete the operation.

I6 and the document thereon.

The exposure table is placed horizontally in line with the apex of the angularly positioned mirrors and the check is fed through this apex.

The apparatus is operated by a motor which, through reduction gears, operates a drive sprocket and this sprocket is connected by an over-running clutch of the ball type with the operating shaft of the mechanism. This'clutch is released by a cam which engages the ball and is operated by a lever projecting from a rotating arbor so arranged that a hook placed in the path of this lever disconnects the clutch and stops the mechanism. This lever is operated by a plunger which is engaged by the stack of checks in the delivery drawer and so arranged that when the last check is removed from the drawer the plunger is released and the hook is brought into operation to declutch the mechanism. The declutching always takes place at the same position in the cycle of operation which completes the recording of the last check of the stack.

The present application is directed to the sheet feeding mechanism per se for any purpose.

In the drawings II is the base upon which the motion picture camera I2 is mounted and the mechanism embodied in the frame I4. The lights I5 are arranged to illuminate the exposure tabl This table is mounted on a shaft I 'I and rests in the horizontal position by the arm I8 engaging the stop I9.

The mechanism is driven by the motor 28, through the belt 2|, belt wheel 22, belt 23 and belt wheel 24 and'chain 31, Fig. 2, engaging the sprocket wheel 38 loosely mounted on the sleeve 39 on the operating shaft 25, Fig. 6.

On the side indicated in Fig. 1, the shaft 25 'is provided with a crank 26, connected to the pitman 21, pivoted at 28 in the bar 29, which slides vertically in the frame I4. 1 The free end 30 of the pitman 21 engages the cam 3|, mounted on the shaft 32 and controlling the fingers 33 which project-the paper on the exposure table I8. The shaft 32 is biased by a weighted arm 34, Fig. 2 to move with a snap action and the rebound of the weight is absorbed by spring 36, engaging cam 35, mounted on shaft 32, Fig. 5.

The clutch mechanism is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 and comprises the freely running sprocket wheel 38 having a hub 48 in which the drum 4I, keyed to the shaft 25 at 42, is located and an outer cover is provided at 43. The drum'4l is provided with one or more inclined apertures indicated at 41 and in which the ball, or roller, 46 is located and may be forced up the incline by a spring according to the commonconstruction in over-running clutches of this type. .The lever 48..is pivoted at 44 to the cover 43 and is formed on a cam at 45 which engages the roller 46 and if this lever is moved upwards from the position shown in Fig. ,Lor if it is held stationary while the drum 4| revolves, the roller 46 is moved out of engagement with 48 and the Operating shaft 25 is freed from the drive, The lever 48 rotates in the path of hook 49, mounted on shaft 562 and by lever 5| and weight 52 normally is held in the engaging position. The hook 49 is disengaged 0n the side of the mechanism, illustrated} in Fig. 2, the cam 55, Figs. 12 and 13, is mounted on shaft 25 and is provided with an annular groove 56 connecting with the rise 51 in which the pin 58, connected to lever 59, rides. Lever 59 is pivoted at 68 and through link 62 connects with lever 63, mounted on shaft I! of the exposure table I6 and weighted at 64 to bring the table into the horizontal position as determined by the stop I9. A spring BI may be provided, engaging lever 59 to absorb the rebound of the weight. By a bevel gear connection 65 on shaft 25, operating through rod 66 and bevel gear 61, the camera mechanism I2 is operated in synchronism with the delivery of the document on the exposure table.

The take-up mechanism for the documents comprises a pair of spaced friction pads, rotated with shaft 25. Each of the friction pads is located between a pair of discs as indicated in Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive. Fig. 8 shows the mechanism located between disc II and disc II which comprises an arm I2, pivoted at 13 and provided with a weight I4 at its outer end which rests against the stop I6 and is held against vibration by spring 15. The rubber pad 19 is mounted on the arm 11 which is arranged for radial movement on the disc by means of the forked end which engages the collar on shaft 25 and the slot which engages the pin I3. The arm 12 forms a yieldable support for the pad I9, controlled by weight 14. The centrifugal force acting on weight 14 is partially balanced by the weight of pad 19 which is locate'd further out from the centre 25 than weight I4. In practice the speed of rotation of disc I I is relatively slow so that centrifugal force has comparatively little effect on the operation in which the weight 14, by gravity, forms the bias for the pad I9. Another pad 88, supported by the fixed support 8 I is mounted on the disc in advance of pad 19, the pad I9 projects somewhat further than the pad 89. A weighted finger 82 is pivoted at 83 and moves between the stops 84 and 84' on the disc I I. This finger has a point 85 projecting beyond the disc to engage the edge of the document as the disc rotates.

A paper guide 88 is arranged to receive the document as it is taken up from the stack. This guide includes a passage 0 between 88 and the cover member 81. Mounted on the paper guide 88, Fig. 5, is the arm 89 pivoted at 98 to 88 and carrying the friction pad 92 in the path of the paper [0 extending from the pivot in the direction in which the paper moves. Tension is provided for arm 89 by spring 9I. This pad is located between the pair of discs II carrying the take-up pads 19, 80.

Thestack of sheets to be photographed are placed in drawer or receptacle 96 and rest with their edge on the bottom 91 as indicated at 98. This drawer is moved forward by the band I09. passing over the roller IOI to engage the weight I02, moving in the guide I83. This moves the stack forward as the sheets are used up. A thrust bar 99, attached to the cover 81, is provided parallel with the bottom 97 of the drawer and re.- ceives the pressure of the s eets as the drawer moves forward. When several sheets move upward at a time, they are carried forward under the paper guide 88 as indicated in Fig. 15 where" the pad 88 takes up the front sheet e and one -or two other sheets on the back thereof. When the pad fixed on disc I I moves into the releasing position, the yieldable pad I9 becomes effective to engage the outer sheet and to move it under the pad 92 fixedly supported by the paper guide 88 as indicated in Fig. 16. Pad 92 being fixed prevents the movement of all of the sheets except the front one engaging pad 19 and these sheets fall back, as indicated at f to rest freely upon the thrust bar 99 until the next operation again takes up the front sheet of the stack. It will be noted that the fixed pad 80 of the movable member H gives the initial movement to the front sheet of the stack and releases it from the thrust bar 99. The yieldable pad 19 engages the sheet when it is released from 98. This yieldable pad projects further from H than pad 80 and carries the released sheets after is is partially released from the stack into the paper guide -c. In the position shown in Fig. 17, the document e is disengaged from the pad 19 and at this stage the finger 85 is released from the cover 81 by the slot beginning at 93 enabling this finger to assume the position shown in Fig. 18 and at this stage the cam 3| is released from 30 and the fingers, 33, 33', moving in suitable slots in the cover, indicated at I05, gives the edge of the document e the final thrust to project it on table l6 against the fixed stop 94 which is the exposure position. In Fig. 13 the cam 51 is operated to deflect the exposure table [6 and discharge the document d by gravity into the chute 95 during the initial operation of taking up the next document e. The camera is operated between the positions indicated in Fig. 18 and Fig. in the rotation of shaft 25.

It will be observed from Fig. 5 that the plunger 54, controlling the clutch, aligns with the aperture 54a of the drawer 95 so that as long as any checks remain in this drawer the plunger is prevented from entering this aperture and the mechanism continues to operate. On the other hand, when the last check is taken up the plunger enters the aperture 54a and the drive is declutched from the operating shaft 25. The clutch may also be operated manually by the knob l I I. operating rod H 2. to rotate the inclined plane H4 to engage the member H3 depending from shaft 50 and to rotate this shaft to bring the hook 49 into the releasing position.

It has been common practice in machines of this type, designed to photograph both sides of a document by angular-1y disposed mirrors, to place the document on a glass exposure table. In practice when this is done the reflected light value for the side of a document resting on the table is reduced and one side of the photograph is more distinct than the other side. tion can be avoided by the use of the wire frame table indicated in Fig. 19 in which the frame I2! is suitably connected to shaft l1 and is provided with a number of fine cross wires to support the document, indicated at I22. These wires are practically invisible in the photograph and they leave a smooth edge at the outer side of the frame over which the document readily slides when the frame is tilted.

The mechanism is biased in most cases by weights in preference to the use of springs and springs are used to take up the recoil to insure a smooth, positive operating action.

The principles of the invention admit of a variety of applications either in the combination shown or with other combinations without departing from the spirit and intent thereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an apparatus for photographically reproducing documents in sheet form, a mechanism including in combination a drawer in which the This condihaving a flat face engaging the face of the outer sheet at its lower end and to take up the pressure of the drawer, a pad for releasing the outer sheet from said fixed bar, an exposure table for the document said pad moving the released sheet by friction forward to the exposure table.

2. In an apparatus for photographically reproducing documents in sheet form, a mechanism including in combination a drawer in which the sheets are stacked on their edge, means for moving the drawer and sheets forward, a fixed horizontal bar close to the bottom of the drawer and engaging the face of the outer sheet for receivingthe pressure on said sheets, a pad for releasing the outer sheets'from the stack to rest upon said bar, an exposure table for the document, said pad moving the released sheet towards the exposure table and means for holding back a following sheet.

3. In an apparatus for photographically reproducing documents in sheet form, a mechanism including in combination a drawer in which the sheets are stacked on their edge, means for moving the drawer and sheets forward, a fixed horizontal bar close to the bottom 01 the drawer for receiving the pressure on said sheets, a paper guide, a rotating disc having a pad fixed thereon releasing the outer sheet from the stack to rest upon said bar, a movably mounted pad on said disc engaging the sheet after it is released and delivering it to said paper guide, an exposure table, and means for moving the sheet onto said exposure table.

4. In an apparatus for photographically reproducing documents in sheet form, a mechanism having an exposure table comprising a drawer in which the sheets are stacked on their edge, means for moving the drawer and sheets forward, a paper guide having a first friction pad thereon, a rotating disc having a second friction pad engaging the outer sheet of the stack and moving said sheet through the paper guide and under said first friction pad, an exposure table for said sheet and means engaging the sheet after it is released by the second pad and moving it onto sa d table.

5. In an apparatus for phocographically reproducing documents in sheet form, a mechanism having an exposure table comprising a drawer in which the sheets are stacked on their edge, means for moving the drawer and sheets forward, a paper guide, an arm pivoted on said guide and having its free end extending back from the mouth of the guide and a first friction pad thereon, a rotating disc having a second friction pad engaging the outer sheet of the stack and moving it into said paper guide and under said first friction pad for moving the sheet toward the exposure table.

6. In an apparatus for photographically reproducing documents in sheet form, a mechanism comprising a drawer in which the sheets are stacked on their edge, means for moving the drawer and sheets forward. a paper guide, an exposure table connected with said guide, a rotating disc, a radially mounted arm having a pad thereon on said disc, biased means projecting said arm to bring the pad into position to engage the front sheet of the stack and deliver it to said guide and further means for delivering the sheet to the exposure table.

7. In an apparatus for photographically reproducing documents in sheet form, a mechanism comprising a drawer in which the sheets are stacked on their edge, means for moving the drawer and sheets forward, a paper guide, an expcsure table connected with said guide, a rotating disc having a friction pad thereon engaging the front sheet of the stack and delivering it to the paper guide, a pair of fingers on said disc released by said mechanism to engage the sheet and move it forward and a pair of fingers released by a cam engaging the sheet after the engagement by the fingers on the disc for moving the sheet to its final position.

8. In a check photographing machine, a mechanism including means for moving forward a stack of checks as they are used, a rotating disc for taking off the front sheet of the stack, a pair of fingers operated by said disc engaging the paper sheet, a second pair of fingers operated by the mechanism engaging the sheet, a horizontally pivoted exposure table, acam releasing said second pair of fingers to project the sheet upon said table and means for tilting said table after the exposure to discharge the document.

9. In a check photographing machine, a mechanism, including means for moving forward a stack of checks as they are used, a rotating disc for taking off the front sheet of the stack, a paper guide, means in said guide for preventing more than one sheet feeding forward at a time, a horizontally pivoted exposure table, fingers operated by said mechanism engaging the paper sheet and moving it onto said exposure table and means for tilting said table after the exposure.

10. In a check photographing machine, a

-mechanism including a sliding drawer with a stack of checks placed on their edge, a weight for forcing said drawer forward to deliver the checks. a fixed bar engaging the checks to take the thrust of the weight, a drive shaft, an operating shaft, a clutch connecting said shafts, a disc on said operating shaft having a friction pad engaging the front sheet of said stack to release it from said bar, an exposure table and means cooperating with said disc preventing more than one sheet feeding at a time, and moving the sheet onto the exposure table.

11. In a check photographing machine, a mechanism including a sliding drawer with a stack of checks placed on their edge, a weight for forcing said drawer forward to deliver the checks, a fixed bar engaging the checks to take the thrust of the weight, a rotating drive shaft, an operating shaft, a clutch connecting said shafts, a disc on said operating shaft having a friction pad engaging the front sheet of said stack to release it from said bar and a rod normally engaging the outer shget of the stack for disconnecting said clutch when the stack of checks in the drawer is exhausted.

12. A paper feeding machine for feeding single paper sheets individually from a stack comprising a holder for moving forward the stacks as the sheets are used, a paper guide, a rotatingber having a pad rigidly mounted thereon, and a second pad on said moving member, movable by a bias with respect to said member said pads engaging the sheet and moving it forward in the feeding operation.

14. A sheet feeding machine for feedingpaper from a stack, comprising a receptacle in which the sheets are stacked, means for moving said stack forward, means for taking up the front sheet from the stack including a moving member having a, pad rigidly mounted thereon engaging the sheet and giving it an initial movement, a

and projected to engage the sheet for feeding it forward from the stock.

16. A sheet feeding machine for feeding paper sheets from a stack, comprising a receptacle in which the sheets are stacked, means for moving the stack forward, a fixed paper guide having a pad mounted thereon, means for taking up the front sheet from the stack including a moving member having a pad thereon engaging the front of the sheet and moving it into said paper guide and the pad on said guide engaging the back of said sheet to prevent more than one sheet feeding at a time.

17. A sheet feeding machine for feeding paper sheets from a stack, comprising a receptacle in which the sheets are stacked, means for moving said stack forward, a fixed paper guide, a spring mounted pad on said guide, a moving member having a pad thereon engaging the front sheet of the stack and moving it into said paper guide and the pad on said guide engaging the back of the sheet to prevent more than one sheet feeding at a time.

18. A sheet feeding machine for feeding paper sheets from a stack, comprising a receptacle in which the sheets are stacked, means for moving said stack forward, a paper guide having a pad mounted thereon, means for taking up the front sheet from said stack including a moving member having a first pad rigidly mounted thereon and a second pad yieldably mounted thereon, said first pad engaging the front sheet of the stock to give it an initial movement towards said guide. said second pad carrying said. sheet into said guide and the pad on said guide engaging the back of the sheet as it moves into said guide.

19. A sheet feeding machine for feeding paper sheets from a stack, comprising a receptacle in which the sheets are stacked, means for moving said stack forward, a paper guide having a pad mounted thereon, a rotating member having a pad thereon engaging the front sheet of the stack and carrying said sheet into said guide, the pad on said guide engaging the back of said sheet to prevent the movement of more than one sheet at a time, and fingers pivoted on said rotating member and weighted to project from said member as it rotates, to engage said sheet and move it forward in the feeding operation.

20. A sheet feeding machine for feeding paper sheets from a stack, comprisng a receptacle in which the sheets are stacked, means for moving said stack forward, a fixed bar engaging the front of the stack near the lower end to take the thrust of the moving stack, a movable member with a first pad fixed thereon engaging the front sheet of the stock and releasing it from said bar and a second pad on said movable member engaging the front sheet that has been released and moving it forward in the feeding operation.

21. A sheet feeding machine for feeding paper sheets from a stack, comprising a receptacle for the paper stack having a back supporting the stack, means for moving said receptacle forward, a drive shaft, a moving member connected with said drive shaft by a clutch, a weighted arm controlling said clutch, a rod pivoted to said arm and engaging the front sheet of the stack and a pad on said moving member engaging the front sheet of the stack and feeding it forward, said supporting back having an aperture registering with the end of said rod, said rod operating said weighted arm to disengage said clutch when it enters said aperture and said rod being prevented from entering said aperture by the sheets until the last sheet of the stack is removed.

22. A sheet feeding machine for feeding paper sheets from a stack, comprising a receptacle for the paper stack, means for moving the stack forward, a paper guide with a pad thereon, a moving member having a pair of pads thereon spaced one on each side of the pad on said guide and arranged to engage the front sheet of the stack and feed it forward to said guide, the pad on said guide being arranged to engage the back of the sheet.

23. A sheet feeding machine for feeding paper sheets from a stack, comprising a receptacle in which the sheets are stacked, means for moving the stack forward, a rotating member, an arm -mounted for radial movement on said member, a

sheets from a stack, comprising a receptacle in' which the sheets are stacked, means for moving said stack forward, a drive shaft, a rotating member driven by said shaft, 9. yieldable arm mounted on said member engaging the front sheet of said stack to feed it forward, a paper guide for receiving said sheet, a pair of fingers engaging the sheet after it enters said guide and a cam operated by said drive shaft for operating said fingers to pro- J'ect the sheet forward.

25. A sheet feeding machine for feeding paper sheets from a stack, comprising a receptacle for the paper stack, means for moving the stack forward, a paper guide, a moving member having a pad thereon engaging the front sheetof the stack, and delivering this sheet to said paper guide, a cover member for said moving member and a biased finger pivoted on said moving member and held in an inactive position by said cover member and when released engaging said sheet to move it forward in said paper guide.

26. A sheet feeding machine for feeding paper sheets from a stack, comprising a receptacle for the paper stack, means for moving the stack forward, a paper guide, a rotating member having a pad thereon engaging the front sheet of the stack and delivering this sheet to said paper guide. a cover member for said rotating member and a biased finger pivoted on said rotating member and released by said cover member to engage the paper sheet after it is delivered to said paper guide to move said sheet forward.

27. A sheet feeding machine for feeding paper sheets from a stack, comprising a frame, a receptacle for the paper stack, means for moving the stack forward, a paper guide supported by said frame, a rotating member having a pad thereon engaging the front sheet of the stack and delivering this sheet to said paper guide, a finger pivoted to said rotating member and engaging said sheet for part of the rotation of said member to move the sheet forward, a second finger pivoted in said frame and a cam operated with said rotating member to release said second finger to engage the sheet and move it forward in said guide.

28. A sheet feeding machine for feeding paper sheets from a. stack, as in claim 27, the engage-- ment of said fingers with the paper sheet being arranged to overlap each other so that one set of fingers succeeds the other in impelling the sheet forward.

ALEXANDER W. NELSON. 

